I would expect my state's police forces to be somewhat better trained than "a truck driver with a gun", for starters. You're correct in saying that police officers are not medical staff and aren't always dealing with sick people who need care. On the other hand, it is very common for the police to encounter mentally ill people in their line of work, and many departments are now training their offers to deal with this situation when it arises, which again, it commonly does.
I cant really gove you an answer,but what I can give you is a way to a solution, that is you have to find the anglde that you relate to or peaks your interest. A good paper is one that people get drawn into because it reaches them ln some way.As for me WW11 to me, I think of the holocaust and the effect it had on the survivors, their families and those who stood by and did nothing until it was too late.